NSA Chief: Surveillance Has Stopped Dozens of Potential Attacks

The head of the National Security Agency says broad US surveillance efforts has helped stop "dozens" of possible attacks.

Published

11 months ago

Categories

US, Technology

Topics

United States, US Politics, Surveillance, Terrorism, Cyber Security

People

Keith Alexander, Edward Snowden

Places

United States of America, Washington, D.C.

Companies

Facebook Inc, Google Inc., Verizon Communications Inc.

Transcript

The U.S. general in charge of cybersecurity said on Wednesday (June 12) recently disclosed top-secret U.S. surveillance programs have helped stop potential terrorist events from being realized. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NSA CHIEF GENERAL KEITH ALEXANDER RESPONDING, SAYING: "It's dozens of terrorist events that these have helped prevent." At a Senate hearing, Director of the National Security Agency General Keith Alexander gave the agency's first public testimony since Edward Snowden disclosed the NSA's broad monitoring of U.S. telephone call and Internet data from companies such as Google, Verizon and Facebook. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NSA CHIEF GENERAL KEITH ALEXANDER SAYING: "For both here and abroad, in disrupting or contributing to the disruption of (AUDIO OF LEAHY INTERRUPTING, ASKING: 'OF THOSE MILLIONS, DOZENS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL?') That is correct." Alexander also told lawmakers U.S. critical infrastructure - ranging from telecommunications to water to energy supplies - is not well prepared to handle a destructive cyber attack.